Grayson collapsed onto the floorboards. He was hurting inside both physically and emotionally. Emotionally because he had just killed someone for the first time and it happened to be himself. Physically or more accurately spiritually he ached. It seems that his soul couldn’t handle the consequences of absorbing the powers of a quasi-mythical entity.
A couple of moments went by before he could finally sit up straight and think properly. He looked at the blue screen that had popped up in front of him after he killed himself.
I need to take my mind off what just happened. Let’s see, I don’t know how strong a quasi-mythical being is but I know for damn sure it probably means that that my future self was pretty strong, if I know anything about the word mythical.
It seemed that he could swipe down on the screen like an iPad to read his other notifications.
This is going to take some getting used to. As awkward as it is to be excited over rewards over killing… yourself, I can’t help but be curious as a game addict.
“Soul capacity, I guess that explains why I suddenly collapsed after— God I can’t stop thinking of his smiling face, this sucks.”
“On the bright side it looks like everything wasn’t in vain.” Grayson reached the end of his notifications and saw that he obtained what his future self wanted him to get which was the System Change Authorization.
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[SYSTEM MESSAGE TO HUMANITY]
In 10 seconds all of humanity will be asked to join the tutorial.
You will be asked to select a difficulty ranging from [Easy] to [Hell] it is advised you treat this seriously, and consider your survival with great care. After selecting a tutorial your awakening will begin.
We look forward to humanity rising to the challenge and wish you the best of luck.
Note that if you do not choose a difficulty after 60 seconds you will automatically be sent to a tutorial zone at random
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Looks like I can’t save the System Change Authorization might as well use it now before I mess up and get randomly sent to hell.
Right as Grayson swiped away the announcement to humanity and personalized window popped up in front of him
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[SYSTEM MESSAGE]
Welcome to The Greater Universe Grayson Alderwood, we look forward to seeing your growth.
Please Select a tutorial Difficult Below:
[Easy]
[Medium]
[Hard]
[Extreme]
[Hell]
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I think that’s my signal to use the reward, but how do I do it?
“Use System Change Authorization,” he tried, but nothing happened. “Inventory?” “Skills?”
Oh, come on how the hell am I supposed to use the system, why didn’t the old man teach me any of this beforehand? At this point in time Grayson had already wasted about 20 seconds trying to figure out how to use this item. He knew that now was not the time to be messing about.
Wait lets see, novels, anime, come on brain give me a clue, wait I got it, System!
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Name: Grayson Alderwood
Race: Human
Stats Points:
* Fortitude: 3
* Agility: 3
* Strength: 4
* Intelligence: 10
Skills:
[Past Echo]
Activate to receive a random skill from [REDACTED], enhancing your abilities with unpredictable effects.
Talents:
[Fast Adaptation] (Humanity Exclusive)
Humans adjust quickly to changing environments, allowing for more stable performance in unfamiliar conditions.
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“Duh, if you don’t shout out the commands you probably have to use your head.”
Well, that’s enough of that, not much time. System use [One-Time Use System Change Authorization]
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[One-Time Use System Change Authorization] Activated
System authorization has been granted, what would you like to change Grayson Alderwood?
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“Add tutorial declination option,” Grayson said without a moment’s hesitation, it had less than 20 seconds before he would be forced into the tutorial.
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[System Processing Request…]
Tutorial Declination is possible. Major ramifications may occur if the tutorial is refused. You have been warned.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Would you like to add a tutorial declination option?
[Yes/No]
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“Yes!” Grayson immediately clicked the button.
After he clicked the button a message popped up [One-Time System Change Authorization] has been consumed. He swiped it away not paying attention to it much.
There were only about 10 seconds left before every went wrong. And as if things couldn’t get away worst, the button to decline to the tutorial was only slowly appearing onto the window.
“You have got to be kidding me.”
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Welcome to The Greater Universe Grayson Alderwood, we look forward to seeing your growth.
Please Select a tutorial Difficult Below:
[Easy]
[Medium]
[Hard]
[Extreme]
[Hell]
[Decline Tutorial Summon]
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“Decline.”
[Please confirm that you are declining participation in the tutorial]
[Yes/No]
“Who adds a confirmation you sick bastards, of course I want to decline.”
Grayson felt like he was sweating all over. This entire sequence had taken less than a minute but he felt like he could die right now. If he somehow messed this up, his future’s self entire life goal would have been all for nothing, even if Grayson didn’t know how this would effect his life, he knew that he trusted his future self and didn’t want to disappoint him.
Grayson Clicked the yes button and nothing happened other than the system window disappearing in front of him.
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[System Message]
Tutorial difficulty has not been selected, you will now be randomly sent to a tutorial zone.
Zone Difficulty Selected: Hell
Teleport will initiate in 10…9…8…
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“How is this happening…”
Grayson fell to his knees. First, he failed to honor the dying wish of his future self, and now he’s been spent to the worst difficulty, hell. If he knew anything about video games it was that modes like these, were designed to be almost impossible and Grayson knew he would probably die trying to attempt something like that.
“I’m sorry Future Grayson. If only I was a bit smarter or a bit faster. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
He was now scrunched into a little ball, accepting his wait to come. All the apologies and wishes to start over were for naught. Grayson knew better than anyone the price to go back to the past was too immense for someone like him to handle.
The tutorial timer slowly went down. 5…4…3…
I wonder what hell difficulty will be like, all flames maybe?
2…1…0—
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[TUTORIAL TELEPORT CANCELLED]
System Change Authorization detected…
An additional 20 seconds will be added to the tutorial selection time.
Please select a tutorial difficulty before the time runs out or you will be sent to a random tutorial difficulty:
[Easy]
[Medium]
[Hard]
[Extreme]
[Hell]
[Decline Tutorial Summon]
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Grayson shot up from his feet and didn’t even need more than a second to hit the decline tutorial button and confirm his choice. He was not going to make another mistake after his first blunder.
“Thank the heavens for giving me another chance,” He cheered out loud dancing around his kitchen, completely forgetting the poor display he had earlier.
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[TUTORIAL DECLINATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED]
Teleport to the tutorial will not take place…
The precedent for tutorial declination has not been witnessed before…
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Grayson's thumped widely as he basked in the momentary relief of things finally going his way for once. But as today showed, he couldn't fully celebrate because a new message materialized in front of him, one that was different. It was shrouded in static and didn't appear to be all there.
[???] has been called to administrate this case.
Grayson squinted his eyes at the ominous message, which sent a chill down his spine. "Come on, what now!? I just declined the tutorial. What's the big deal?" The screen in front of Grayson flickered wildly, and a shadowy figure whose silhouette was indistinguishable appeared.
Grayson's mind started going haywire as it tried to figure out what it was looking at. A wave of trepidation washed over Grayson. The system message wasn't any ordinary system message; the entity that stood before had been oozed with the authority of the very rules of the universe.
"Grayson Alderwood," the entity spoke, the voice echoed in his mind rather than as an audible sound. The very voice disturbed his soul to the core.
"You have made a choice that has never been made before. Judging by your looks, you must not understand the gravity of your decision. Grayson felt his stomach twist into a knot. He didn't know if the entity was aware of his future self.
"I just wanted to avoid getting thrown into Hell! What could possibly be the ramifications?"
Damn, that excuse sucked.
The figure regarded him with a gaze that seemed to pierce into his very soul. He knew he was lying. If anything he already knew about his future self, but to be on the safe side he didn't admit to anything. "Your refusal to participate will not interfere with your awakening- but your awakening will diverge from the path laid out for humanity. You will not receive the initial guidance offered to others. Instead, you will be thrown into the Greater Universe without a safety net."
"Great. Just what I wanted," Grayson said sarcastically. "What do I even get for this?"
"Whether or not this decision of yours will prove fruitful is uncertain. However, know this: by declining, you have chosen a path of isolation. You will face trials unlike any other, only matching that of the hell difficulty you say you were feared." the entity continued, its voice dripping between a mix of warning and intrigue.
He knows. Grayson clenched his fists, resolve forming inside of him. "I'll take my chances. I trust my future— not myself to guide me." "Very well. Your decision is final." The figure began to fade, leaving one final message, "Prepare yourself Grayson Alderwood. The Greater Universe awaits, and its challenges will test the limits of your being." Before he could say anything, the entity vanished into nothingness, leaving behind nothing but a message on the blue screen in front of him.
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[TUTORIAL DECLINATION HAS BEEN CONFIRMED]
Teleport to the tutorial will not take place. Initiating Awakening Sequence...
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As the screen went away, Grayson felt something inside of him, pulling at the very core of his being. It was like the very fabric of reality was unraveling all around him. He saw memories of the past swirl in a chaotic rhythm around him- his life leading up to this moment, his failed attempts at romance, the long nights spent working late for his college classes. Then a sudden clarity or realization hit him. He felt more like himself.
[AWAKENING IN PROGRESS...]
He remembered the times he was so done in the deep when he felt nothing when the world was against him. He thought of his future self and the face he made as he talked about the world ending. This was his life and this was him. There was no restarting not now, and if his future self could rise to the apex surely he could face whatever lay ahead in his new path.
[AWAKENING COMPLETE]
The world around him exploded in color, vibrant and overwhelming.
For some reason, he found himself back in his kitchen walking toward the front down. He opened up and what he saw was breathtaking. A vast otherworldly landscape growing widely. Strange flora and a weird emptiness from the lack of humans greeted him.
Grayson took a deep breath ready to face whatever challenges awaited him. He might have declined the tutorial, but he was determined to face whatever was thrown at him.